Packaging of bottles or other articles

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for packing bottles or the like in cartons. Bottles or the like are arranged in columns and rows in open containers and partition strips are inserted therebetween. The partition strip material is delivered in continuous length to one or a plurality of partition inserting stations whereupon the material is cut off at the desired length, collected by mechanical fingers and inserted downwardly between the rows and columns of bottles or the like. The partition strips at one station are inserted transversely to the partition strips at the next immediate station, the subsequently inserted strips serving to force the first-mentioned strips downwardly between the columns or rows of partitions. This invention provides for tight packages with little or no risk of breakage as a result of relative vibration between the packed bottles.

United States Patent Cordemy 1451 July 25,1972

[54] PACKAGING 0F BOTTLES OR OTHER 3,350,836 11/1967 Dillon et a].53/15? x ARTICLES [72] I v Henry M Comet-0y, Gladesville New PrimaryExaminer-Robert L. Spruill South Wales, Australi Attorney-Ryder, McAulay& Hefter 731 Assignee: A.C.l. Operations Pty. Limited, Melbourne,Victoria, Australia [57] ABSTRACT [22] Fil May 1 1970 The presentinvention relates to an improved method and apparatus for packingbottles or the like in cartons. Bottles or the [21 Appl, No.: 37,207like are arranged in columns and rows in open containers and partitionstrips are inserted therebetween. The partition strip [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data material is delivered in continuous length toone or a plurality of partition inserting stations whereupon thematerial is cut off May I5, 1969 Australia ..55076/69 at the desiredlength, collected by mechanical fingers and inserted downwardly betweenthe rows and columns of bottles [52] U.S.C| .Q.53/l4,53/23,53 /l23, orthe like. The partition strips at one station are inserted 53/ l28,53/157, 93/37 R transversely to the partition strips at the nextimmediate sta- [51] lnt. Cl ..B65b 61/00 tion, the subsequently insertedstrips serving to force the first- [58] Field of Search ..53/3, '14, 35,123, 128, 157, mentioned strips downwardly between the columns or rowsof 53/389, 393, 23; 93/37 R, 38 partitions. This invention provides fortight packages with littie or no risk of breakage as a result ofrelative vibration References Cited between the packed bottles.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 968,898 1/196} HickinI l I Z I 21 i 22 I 1; O 1' 0 Z I II Patented July 25, 1972 3,G78,647

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PACKAGING OF BOTTLES OR OTHER ARTICLES Thespecifications of prior US. Pat. application Ser. No. 872,531 filed Oct.30, 1969, disclosed a method of and apparatus for inserting separatingstrips or partitions at different levels between columns and rows ofbottles, jars or other articles previously placed in a carton or othercontainer.

It is usual to separate fragile articles such as bottles or jars in acarton or the like, by means of a preformed collapsible cellular insertcomposed of longitudinally and transversely extending interfittingslotted strips of paperboard or the like, which define a separate cellor compartment for each article.

The packing operation is usually carried out by manually placing theseveral articles in the carton and by then opening out a collapsedcellular insert and placing it in the carton so that each article iscontained within an individual. compartment. Mechanical packing does notappear to be used and would be difficult to accomplish because eacharticle should be a firm fit in its respective compartment and theoperation would be equally, if not more difi'rcult, if the cellularinsert were placed in the carton before the articles.

The aforesaid prior application discloses a method of and apparatus forforming a cellular structure, composed of separate preformed partitionstrips, in situ in a carton or the like which contains a plurality ofbottles, jars or other articles arranged in at least two columns and atleast two rows. For this purpose one of the preformed partition stripsis inserted downwardly between each adjacent pair of columns or rowsafter which a partition member is inserted downwardly between eachadjacent pair of rows or columns as the case may be.

The cellular structure formed by the partition members is thus notself-supporting as each partition member is retained in position solelyby the articles at each side of it.

Now the object of this invention is to provide an improved method of andapparatus for applying partition members or separating strips betweenarticles in a carton or other container.

Accordingly the invention provides a method wherein each partition orseparating strip is severed from a continuous length of strip materialand is then mechanically inserted downwardly between adjacent columns orrows of articles in a carton or other container.

More particularly the method preferably comprises moving to andarresting at each of a plurality of spaced stations, successive cartonsor other containers accommodating bottles or other articles arranged inat least two columns and at least two rows, intermittently movinghorizontally above each of at least two of said stations, the free endportion of at least one continuous length of suitable strip materialhaving its faces disposed vertically, severing the said free end portionfrom the parent strip to fonn a partition member, and moving the latterdownwardly so as to insert it between adjacent columns or rows ofarticles in a container at the respective station, the strip or stripsat one of said stations being disposed parallel to the direction ofmovement of the container and the strip or strips at another of saidstations being disposed transversely thereto.

The invention also includes partition forming and inserting apparatuscomprising, means for intermittently feeding forwardly the free endportion of a horizontally extending strip of suitable material arrangedon edge, means operable to grip said free end portion of the strip,means operable to sever said free end portion from the parent strip toform a partition member, means operable to move said gripping meansdownwards together with the partition member, thereby to insert thelatter between adjacent columns or rows of articles in a containerdisposed therebelow, and means for returning said gripping meansupwardly after the partition member is released thereby.

The said gripping means preferably comprise a plurality of verticallydisposed pincers-like clamping devices spaced lengthwise of saidpartition member at positions corresponding to the spacing of saidarticles, the lower end portions of said clamping devices being adaptedto enter spaces between the packed articles.

Guide means adapted to maintain the faces of the strip in a vertical'plane while it moves forwardly as above described, are also preferablyprovided, while also retractable means may be provided for supportingthe lower edge of the strip until it is grasped by said gripping means.

Preferably at least two of said partitions forming and inserting devicesare arranged in spaced relationship adjacent to different stations atwhich each container is stopped in turn, said devices being arranged sothat the continuous strip at one station is disposed parallel to thedirection of movement of the container, while the strip at the otherstation is disposed transversely thereto.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, oneembodiment thereof is more fully described below with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the manner in whichlayers of partition members are inserted at right angles to adjacentlayers.

FIG. 2, is a perspective view showing the arrangement of adjacent layersof partition strips.

FIG. 3, is a plan view of a carton of bottles or the like with partitionstrips inserted between adjacent rows and columns of said bottles or thelike.

FIG. 4, is a diagrammatic view in plan of apparatus for simultaneouslyforming and inserting three parallel partition members into a container,and

FIG. 5, is a view in sectional elevation to a larger scale taken on theline 55 of FIG. 4.

In carrying out the invention, an intermittently actuated horizontalconveyor (not shown) is preferably provided to move cartons insuccession to, and arrest them in turn at, a plurality of successivestations, the cartons having previously been packed with bottles 10 orother articles arranged in longitudinally extending columns andtransversely extending rows. The terms columns and rows are used merelyto designate lines of articles disposed at right angles to each otherand are therefore interchangeable.

Thus for example rectangular cartons each containing 16 bottles 10arranged in four columns and four rows may be provided at one stationwith three parallel partitions 11 each of which is pushed downwardlybetween two adjacent columns of the bottles which may be assumed to beparallel to the direction of movement of the container.

At a subsequent station three further partitions arranged transverselyto the direction of movement of the container are inserted downwardlybetween the adjacent rows of the bottles.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows apparatus which is arranged at each of thesaid two stations and. above a carton 12 indicated in broken lines inthe position which it occupies when its movement in the direction of thearrow 13 is temporarily arrested at that station. As shown in thisFigure the three partition members 11 which are inserted into the cartonat that station are parallel to each other and to the direction ofmovement of the carton. The similar apparatus arranged at the other oneof the said stations is arranged at right angles to the said directionof movement so that the partition members 11 inserted at that stationare transverse thereto.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 4 comprises three similar units, one foreach of the partition members to be inserted at that position, and eachof these units comprises a coil or roll 14 of suitable strip materialsuch as paperboard, from which the partition members are formed. Eachroll is supported for rotation about a vertical axis and the width ofthe strip is equal to the required width of the partition members 11.

The free end portion of each strip is led from the respective coil orroll 14 to and between a corresponding pair of vertically disposed feedrollers 15, which are arranged to be driven intermittently by anysuitable mechanism which is not shown. Thus when these feed rollers areactuated the strip is drawn from the respective coil and movedhorizontally towards the opposite end of the unit and betweeninterrupted guide members 16 which maintain the strip in the requiredvertical plane which passes midway between two adjacent columns ofbottles in the carton disposed therebelow.

The feed rollers continue to operate until the leading edge of the stripreaches a predetermined position when they are automatically stopped,for which purpose the said leading edge may engage a micro-switch on astop member 17 though any other suitable sensing means may be used forthis purpose.

Immediately following this operation, the strip is engaged between thedepending arms 18 and 19 of each of a plurality of spaced grippingdevices of pincers-like form, which are arranged vertically and whichhave their free lower ends extending through the gaps betweencorresponding sections of the interrupted guide member 16.

In the illustrated construction three of the said gripping devices arespaced along the length of each strip 11 and in transverse alignmentwith the corresponding gripping devices for the other two strips and thearms 18 and 19 of each transversely aligned group of gripping devicesare pivoted to a common, transversely extending support bar 20 arrangedtransversely above the strips as shown in FIG. 5.

The three bars 20 for the corresponding groups of transversely alignedgripping devices are rigidly connected together and means not shown areprovided for raising and lowering them at required stages during theoperation of the apparatus.

Each of the arms 18 and 19 has an upward extension 21, 22 which isconnected by a pivoted link 23, 24 to the corresponding arms of the sametransverse group and means not shown, are provided for actuating theseconnecting links at required intervals to open and close the severalgripping devices in unison. Also the lower end portions of the grippingarms may be provided with resilient gripping pads or the like, notshown, to ensure that when they are closed they firmly grip therespective strips 11.

Immediately following the closure of the several gripping devices toengage the three projected strips 11 each of the latter is severed fromthe parent strip by operation of power actuated cutters which arediagrammatically indicated at 25 in FIG. 4. Each severed strip 11 isthen supported solely by the respective group of gripping devices and isarranged vertically above the position in which it is to be inserted inthe carton 12 as best shown in FIG. 5.

The actuating means for the support bars 20 then operates to move thesebars vertically downwards, together with the respective groups ofgripping devices and the three partition members 11 which are thuspushed downwardly between the respective columns or rows of bottles 10.The first group of parallel partition members inserted in the carton maybe moved downwardly by the gripping members until their lower edges areclose to the bottom of the carton, but this is not essential as when ata subsequent station three more partition members, arranged at rightangles thereto, are similarly insertcd, they may serve to push the firstgroup of partition members further into the carton.

The spacing of the gripping devices along the length of the partitionstrip corresponds to the spacing of the bottles 10 in the carton andthey are so arranged and designed that their lower ends may enter thespaces between four adjacent bottles 10 as indicated near the lower leftcorner of FIG. 3.

When each group of partition members is inserted into the carton by therespective gripping devices, the latter are simultaneously releasedbefore being returned to their normal upper positions.

In order to stop the successive cartons in turn at the aforesaidstations, they may be supported on an intennittently operated conveyor,though alternatively the conveyor may operate continuously and thecartons may be temporarily arrested at the required positions byretractable stop members. According to a further modification thecartons may move continuously, in which case the partition grippingmeans may move forwardly in unison with the cartons as the partitionsare inserted therein, and then return rearwardly to their originalpositions.

lclaim:

1. Method of packaging articles such as bottles in a carton or the like,comprising the steps of moving to and arresting at each of a pluralityof spaced stations, successive cartons or other containers accommodatingbottles or other articles arranged in at least two columns and at leasttwo rows, intermittently moving horizontally above each of at least twoof said stations the free end portion of at least one continuous lengthof suitable partition strip material having its faces disposedvertically, gripping the free end portion and supporting it againstvertical movement, severing the free end portion from the strip to forma partition member, and moving the partition member downwardly so as toinsert it between adjacent columns or rows of articles in a container atthe respective station, the strip at one of said stations being disposedparallel to the direction of movement of the container and the strip atanother of said stations being disposed transversely thereto.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strip or strips inserted ata second or subsequent stations forces the strip or strips inserted atthe preceding station or stations downwardly between the columns and/orrows of articles a distance substantially equal to the width of thestrip last inserted.

3. Apparatus for forming and inserting partition strips into an opencarton or like container in which a plurality of bottles or like otherarticles are arranged in columns and rows comprising a continuous stripof partition material, means for intermittently delivering a free endportion of the strip horizontally to a first position spaced from andaligned between adjacent columns, the faces of the free end portionbeing disposed vertically, means for gripping the free end portion andsupporting it against vertical movement, means for severing the free endportion to form a partition member of predetermined length, and meansfor inserting the partition member between the adjacent columns.

4. Apparatus for packaging articles such as bottles or the like in acarton or like container comprising means for moving to and arresting ateach of a plurality of spaced stations, successive cartons or likecontainers accommodating bottles or like other articles arranged in atleast two columns and at least two rows; a continuous roll of suitablepartition strip material; means for intermittently deliveringhorizontally above each of at least two of said stations the free endportion of said continuous strip in such manner as to have its facesdisposed vertically; means for severing the free end portion from theparent strip to fonn a partition member, and means for gripping saidpartition member and moving it downwardly so as to insert said partitionmember between adjacent columns or rows of articles in a container atthe respective station, the apparatus being adapted to insert thepartition member at one of said stations whereby the member at said onestation is disposed parallel to the direction of movement of thecontainer and the strip at another of said stations is disposedtransversely thereto.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the gripping means comprise aplurality of vertically disposed pincers-like clamping devices spacedlengthwise of said partition member at positions corresponding to thespacing of said articles, the lower end portions of said clampingdevices being adapted to enter spaces between the packed articles.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 characterized by guide means adaptedto maintain the strip material on edge, that is with its faces in thevertical plane, while the free end portion of said strip material ismoved forwardly.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that at least two ofsaid partition forming and inserting devices are arranged in spacedrelationship adjacent to different stations at which each container isstopped in turn, said devices being arranged so that the continuousstrip at one station is disposed parallel to the direction of movementof the container, while the strip at another station is disposedtransversely thereto.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the inserting means effectsmovement of the gripping means toward and away from the adjacentcolumns, the gripping means releasing the partition member when thepartition member is in a second position between the adjacent columns.

9. Apparatus for forming and inserting partition strips into an opencarton or like container in which a plurality of bottles or like otherarticles are arranged in columns and rows, the number of columns beingat least three, the apparatus comprising a plurality of continuousstrips of partition material, means for intermittently delivering a freeend portion of each strip horizontally to a first position spaced fromthe articles, each strip being aligned between a corresponding pair ofadjacent columns, the faces of the free end portions being disposedvertically, means for gripping each free end portion and for supportingit against vertical movement, means for severing each free end portionto form a plurality of partition members of predetermined length, andmeans for inserting simultaneously the partition members between theircorresponding pair of adjacent columns.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including means for intermittentlydelivering a free end portion of a second continuous strip of partitionmaterial horizontally to a position spaced from the articles and alignedbetween a pair of adjacent rows transverse to the columns, the faces ofthe second continuous strip being disposed vertically, means forgripping each free end portion of the second strip and for supporting itagainst vertical movement, means for severing each free end portion ofthe second strip to fonn a second partition member of predeterminedlength, and means for inserting the second partition member between apair of adjacent rows.

m a a

1. Method of packaging articles such as bottles in a carton or the like,comprising the steps of moving to and arresting at each of a pluralityof spaced stations, successive cartons or other containers accommodatingbottles or other articles arranged in at least two columns and at leasttwo rows, intermittently moving horizontally above each of at least twoof said stations the free end portion of at least one continuous lengthof suitable partition strip material having its faces disposedvertically, gripping the free end portion and supporting it againstvertical movement, severing the free end portion from the strip to forma partition member, and moving the partition member downwardly so as toinsert it between adjacent columns or rows of articles in a container atthe respective station, the strip at one of said stations being disposedparallel to the direction of movement of the container and the strip atanother of said stations being disposed transversely thereto.
 2. Methodas claimed in claim 1 wherein the strip or strips inserted at a secondor subsequent stations forces the strip or strips inserted at thepreceding station or stations downwardly between the columns and/or rowsof articles a distance substantially equal to the width of the striplast inserted.
 3. Apparatus for forming and inserting partition stripsinto an open carton or like container in which a plurality of bottles orlike other articles are arranged in columns and rows comprising acontinuous strip of partition material, means for intermittentlydelivering a free end portion of the strip horizontally to a firstposition spaced from and aligned between adjacent columns, the faces ofthe free end portion being disposed vertically, means for gripping thefree end portion and supporting it against vertical movement, means forsevering the free end portion to form a partition member ofpredetermined length, and means for inserting the partition memberbetween the adjacent columns.
 4. Apparatus for packaging articles suchas bottles or the like in a carton or like container coMprising meansfor moving to and arresting at each of a plurality of spaced stations,successive cartons or like containers accommodating bottles or likeother articles arranged in at least two columns and at least two rows; acontinuous roll of suitable partition strip material; means forintermittently delivering horizontally above each of at least two ofsaid stations the free end portion of said continuous strip in suchmanner as to have its faces disposed vertically; means for severing thefree end portion from the parent strip to form a partition member, andmeans for gripping said partition member and moving it downwardly so asto insert said partition member between adjacent columns or rows ofarticles in a container at the respective station, the apparatus beingadapted to insert the partition member at one of said stations wherebythe member at said one station is disposed parallel to the direction ofmovement of the container and the strip at another of said stations isdisposed transversely thereto.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3wherein the gripping means comprise a plurality of vertically disposedpincers-like clamping devices spaced lengthwise of said partition memberat positions corresponding to the spacing of said articles, the lowerend portions of said clamping devices being adapted to enter spacesbetween the packed articles.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3characterized by guide means adapted to maintain the strip material onedge, that is with its faces in the vertical plane, while the free endportion of said strip material is moved forwardly.
 7. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 3 characterized in that at least two of said partitionforming and inserting devices are arranged in spaced relationshipadjacent to different stations at which each container is stopped inturn, said devices being arranged so that the continuous strip at onestation is disposed parallel to the direction of movement of thecontainer, while the strip at another station is disposed transverselythereto.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the inserting meanseffects movement of the gripping means toward and away from the adjacentcolumns, the gripping means releasing the partition member when thepartition member is in a second position between the adjacent columns.9. Apparatus for forming and inserting partition strips into an opencarton or like container in which a plurality of bottles or like otherarticles are arranged in columns and rows, the number of columns beingat least three, the apparatus comprising a plurality of continuousstrips of partition material, means for intermittently delivering a freeend portion of each strip horizontally to a first position spaced fromthe articles, each strip being aligned between a corresponding pair ofadjacent columns, the faces of the free end portions being disposedvertically, means for gripping each free end portion and for supportingit against vertical movement, means for severing each free end portionto form a plurality of partition members of predetermined length, andmeans for inserting simultaneously the partition members between theircorresponding pair of adjacent columns.
 10. Apparatus as defined inclaim 9 including means for intermittently delivering a free end portionof a second continuous strip of partition material horizontally to aposition spaced from the articles and aligned between a pair of adjacentrows transverse to the columns, the faces of the second continuous stripbeing disposed vertically, means for gripping each free end portion ofthe second strip and for supporting it against vertical movement, meansfor severing each free end portion of the second strip to form a secondpartition member of predetermined length, and means for inserting thesecond partition member between a pair of adjacent rows.